Obituary - Donald Junior Whitear

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2 April, 2013 - 17:07

Article Date:

2 April, 2013 (All day)

Donald Junior Whitear was born June 1, 1927 in a log cabin in Peterson Utah to Albert V. Whitear and Clara Catherine Gibby on the Whitear Farm. Don passed away on that same farm March 30, 2013 from complications of cancer treatments. He is survived by sisters Hazel Richins and Josie Bell.

Don had two sweethearts in his life. He married Veva Afton Mildon on April 1, 1949 (no foolin) in the SLC Temple. They had 6 children (spouses) Craig (Valerie), Ronnie (Christine), Bevan (Joni), Haven, VaDon (James Pace), DaLynn (Gary Patterson). During this time with Veva, Don was a busy man. Helping build the Peterson canal system and ward chapel. He was a member of the Morgan School Board from 1971-80, and served as a counselor in the Peterson Ward Bishopric, twice. He named every one of his 35 cows and was recognized as Farmer of the Year for having top milk production. In addition, his water gravity design for farm irrigation earned him the Conservation award from the State of Utah. With these accomplishments, and 30 wonderful years of marriage he lost his 1st sweetheart to cancer.

Not wanting to spend his life alone, he was blessed with his 2nd sweetheart, Laraine Stucki. Married on December 22, 1980 in the SLC Temple. She came with 4 children. (Hackley) Danette, Chad (Natalie), Kendra (Brian Crittenden), Colton (Toni Jo). They then had a child together named Chalaine (Paul Bugnet) making Don a father to 11 children. The house quickly became too small, in 1990, Don built his field of dreams, a barn for special family events. It became a way to share his beloved farm with other families. He served a mission with Laraine in 2000 to the First Nations People of Calgary, Alberta Canada. Upon their return, they established Camp Helaman in 2002 as a grandma camp for their 38 grandchildren and 35 great- grandchildren. Don was surprised to find that his 2nd sweetheart would also be lost to cancer after 30 years of marriage.

He has spent the past three years waiting to be reunited with his sweethearts and received his wish Saturday afternoon with loved ones releasing him to heaven to meet his wives, parents and siblings who have gone before him.

Don’s life legacy includes a young man who joined the navy in 1945, at 17, to impress the girls, and serve his country during World War II, then cried when he returned and saw the hills of home. He attended Weber State but was drawn back to the farm where he became a man “out standing” in his field, driving his favorite tractor, plowing the same fields his father and grandfather plowed. Digging up rocks nests so that they would stop hatching more rocks, climbing the hills of home to cut down the family Christmas tree, “CAT”-ing around making roads like an earth surgeon, leveling fields, planting crops and chanting personal puns with hyperboles to entertain others with his wit and humor. He is a man who knows what love is. Don loved sharing his possessions with family and friends, taking grandkids for rides on the 4 wheeler, picking wild flowers for his sweethearts and now he dances again with the women he loves.

Services: Peterson Ward No Stake Center. Viewing: Thursday April 4, 6-8pm & Friday April 5, 10:45-11:45. Funeral at 12 noon. The interment at Peterson Cemetery, followed by a celebration of his life at the Whitear Rec Center.